Conference Abstract | Volume 8, Abstract ELIC2025439 (Poster 157) | Published: 06 Aug 2025
Danny Akhere Asogun1,2,&, Joseph Okoeguale1,3, Stephan Guenther4, Christian Happi5, Ekaete Alice Tobin1,2, Rueben Eifediyi1,3
1Institute of Viral and Emergent pathogens Control and Research, Irrua Specialist Teaching Hospital, Irrua, Nigeria, 2Department of Community medicine, Ambrose Alli University, Ekpoma, Nigeria, 3Department of Obstetrics & Gynaecology, Ambrose Alli University, Ekpoma, Nigeria, 4Virology Dept., Bernhard Nocht Institute for Tropical Medicine, Hamburg, Germany, 5ACEGID, Redeemers University, Ede, Osun State, Nigeria
&Corresponding author: Danny Akhere Asogun, .Institute of Viral and Emergent Pathogens Control and Research, Irrua Specialist Teaching Hospital, Irrua, Nigeria, Email: dannyasogun@aauekpoma.edu.ng
Received: 31 May 2025, Accepted: 09 Jul 2025, Published: 06 Aug 2025
Domain: Infectious Disease Epidemiology
Keywords: Lassa fever, research governance, emerging infectious diseases, capacity building
©Danny Akhere Asogun et al. Journal of Interventional Epidemiology and Public Health (ISSN: 2664-2824). This is an Open Access article distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution International 4.0 License (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/), which permits unrestricted use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided the original work is properly cited.
Cite this article: Danny Akhere Asogun et al., A governance model for Lassa fever and emerging infectious diseases: The Irrua Institute initiative. Journal of Interventional Epidemiology and Public Health. 2025;8(ConfProc5):00301.https://doi.org/10.37432/JIEPH-CONFPRO5-00301
The Institute of Lassa fever Research and Control (now renamed as Institute of Viral and Emergent Pathogens Control and Research -IVEPCR) is in Irrua Specialist Teaching Hospital, Nigeria. It was established in 2007 as an indigenous initiative of the hospital management in response to the epidemic of Lassa fever (LF) in the area. At commencement of operation, mortality from cases of LF ranged from 60 -80%. There was dearth of Diagnostic and case management capabilities.
For administration, a director and secretary were appointed to man the various divisions created. The divisions were Training, Diagnostic and Research Laboratory, Case management, Community outreach, Data management, Information/media and administration/secretariat. The Institute related with stakeholders and form partnership at the community, Local government area, State, National and International levels. The hospital ethics committee ensured compliance with GCP in all research studies. The Irrua study group made up of local and international partners coordinated all research studies , ensured compliance with GCP including signing of MOUs.
Capacity in molecular diagnostics were built over time with 50 laboratory personnel able to run RT-PCR diagnostics. Apart from LF, diagnostics capability has been built on other emergent infectious diseases such as Ebola, Covid-19, Dengue and mpox. Case management is by trained physicians including capability in hemodialysis. Mortality reduced from 60 -80% at inception of the institute to 10 -15% in 2024/2025. The institute is presently a training hub in diagnostics, case management and research for physicians from across the nation.
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